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Learn About Conditions and Procedures

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a serious injury or shock to the body. It is caused by a physical force such as violence or an accident. The injury may be complicated by psychiatric, behavioral, and social factors.

It is critical to have an entire team immediately available to provide care to an injured patient 24-hours a day. This teamwork starts at the scene of the injury where a coordinated, statewide pre-hospital medical system rapidly transports the injured patient from the scene to the hospital providing the appropriate level of care according to criteria established in the statewide trauma regulations. Once at the hospital, a complete team of surgeons, emergency physicians and nurses continue the life-saving treatment.

This team approach to care of the injured patient has had a dramatic impact on saving lives.

Minimally Invasive Procedures for Massive Bleeding

Injuries take many forms. The most advanced hospitals can treat injuries with a variety of approaches that involve well-known ones, like surgery, and newer ones where minimally invasive procedures can replace some surgeries.

As a Level 1 Trauma Center, Hartford Hospital has Interventional Radiologists as part of the Trauma Team. They perform procedures such as "embolization" which is a recognized interventional radiology technique that is used to treat trauma patients with massive bleeding.

Click here to see some of the advanced interventional techniques available at Hartford Hospital.

Learn more about trauma, or search below to learn about other health conditions.

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Anthrax Vaccine

by Diana Kohnle

En Español (Spanish Version)

What Is Anthrax?

Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It can occur in humans when they have been exposed to contaminated animals or tissue from these animals.

Different types of anthrax infections can occur. These include:

Skin infection causing:
- Skin ulcers
- Fever
- Fatigue
Gastrointestinal infection causing:
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sore throat
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Swollen lymph glands
Inhaled infection. This is the most serious form and can cause:
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Breathing problems
- Shock
- Brain inflammation

Anthrax is treated with antibiotics. All forms of anthrax can be fatal, especially if not treated.

What Is the Anthrax Vaccine?

The anthrax vaccine protects against anthrax. It does not contain cells that cause anthrax.

Who Should Get Vaccinated and When?

The following people (aged 18 to 65 years) should get vaccinated. Those who:

Are lab workers who may come into contact with B. anthracis
Certain people who handle animals and animal products
Certain people in the military who run the risk of exposure to anthrax as a biological warfare weapon

These people should get 5 doses of the vaccine in the muscle. The first dose should be given when there is risk of exposure. The other 4 doses should be given at 4 weeks and 6, 12, and 18 months after the first dose.

What Are the Risks Associated With the Anthrax Vaccine?

Common, mild side effects include a reaction at the injection site—Soreness, redness, itching, a lump, or a bruise
Headaches
Fatigue
Rare, but serious risks include a serious allergic reaction—This condition is usually associated with anaphylaxis, which is an extreme allergic response.
Other serious adverse events may also occur.

Who Should Not Get Vaccinated?

Those who should not get vaccinated include:

Anyone who has had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of anthrax vaccine or any vaccine component
People with Guillain Barré syndrome
Those who are very sick

What Other Ways Can Anthrax Be Prevented Besides Vaccination?

Take precautions when dealing with animals or animal products that could possibly be contaminated with B. anthracis.
Begin a course of antibiotic treatment if you have been exposed to anthrax.

What Happens in the Event of an Outbreak?

It is not believed that anthrax can be spread from person to person. If an outbreak occurred and a large number of people were exposed to the bacteria, the US would give antibiotics and vaccines to everyone who was exposed.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

Vaccine and Immunizations

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/

World Health Organization

http://www.who.int

Anthrax. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/anthrax/. Updated July 17, 2009. Accessed December 31, 2012.

Anthrax. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated December 21, 2012. Accessed December 31, 2012.

Anthrax. Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm063485.htm. Updated March 18, 2011. Accessed December 31, 2012.

Anthrax vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-anthrax.pdf. Updated March 10, 2010. Accessed December 31, 2012.

Last reviewed December 2012 by Brian Randall, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.